"We have seen a gradual nibbling away of post offices over the years," said Mr Sheerman. "This is a hammer blow. A lot of people are going to be cut off, including the elderly and young women with children.

"What on earth is the Post Office supposed to be about? I'll fight this tooth and nail."

Golcar councillor Robert Iredale said post office closures had already cut a swathe across his ward.

He spoke to Post Office bosses yesterday on hearing the news that two village branches were in their plans.

But he said he feared the worst, adding: "It's going to tear the heart out of Golcar."

He believed other businesses would inevitably suffer.

Noreen Logan, chairman of the Huddersfield and District Pensioners' Organisation, said the elderly would be hardest hit.

"It's quite horrendous. The only criterion seems to be that if a post office is not commercially viable they close it down. There's no sign of them thinking about the service. It's still a public service. It's still a Government business."

Ms Logan also fears the closures will not stop with those listed yesterday.

"It's 10 now. Will there be another 10 next year? Soon there will be no post offices left, apart from ones in the town centre."

News of the closure threat came only hours before the Royal Mail announced a £3m profit in the first half of the financial year - the first time it has been in the black at this stage for five years.

But despite the good news, Mr Leighton said there was a "long way" to go before the organisation achieved sustainable profitability.

The company, which is still clearing a backlog of mail following a series of wildcat strikes by postal workers, said its day-to-day operations made a £55m profit, as against a £147m loss a year ago.

The figures covered the six months to September, before the unofficial strikes, which are believed to have cost Royal Mail millions of pounds.

***

To comment on the closures you can ring Post Office regulator Postwatch on 08456 013265